Help Tuck Survive FIP

Hello! My name is Liesl, and I'm raising money to try and help save my kitten, Tuck. She was recently diagnosed with a fatal disease called Effusive Feline Infectious Peritonitis. It's a mutation of a feline coronavirus- an extremely simplified explanation is that her blood vessels are leaking fluid into her abdomen and chest cavities. Her poor little belly is swollen to the point she looks heavily pregnant, and if left untreated, it will eventually render her unable to breathe. In the past this diagnosis was considered a death sentence, and some vets will still tell you that there's nothing they can do. An extremely knowledgeable "FIP Warrior" group online has reached out to me and put me in contact with a local vet who has had success treating this horrid disease. A specific antiviral is available that has had about an 85% success rate in curing these kittens. Along with regular bloodwork, she would need a daily dose of this antiviral for at least 84 days; unfortunately, the cost of this adds up fast. I have always been the kind of person who refuses to ask anyone for money, but this is for Tucky, not me, so I feel like I owe it to her to at least put it out there and see if anyone wants to help.

A little background on Tuck- I adopted her a couple of months ago to fill a little of the emptiness after the loss of my sweet old dog Boots. He had been my shadow for 13 years. Tuck and Boots share some odd similarities and have the same sweet, laid-back disposition. They both have, as I always called it, a "wonky nub" for a tail. Boots' was short and hooked at the end, while Tuck's is folded over multiple times, reminiscent of a squished pipe cleaner. Until you actually touch it, it looks just like a crooked nub. No one at the shelter has any idea what happened to her. She also follows me around the house and sits patiently at my feet like my dog, whatever I'm doing. She talks a lot and seems to believe she's offering her best advice whenever I cook.

Before Boots died, taking the best possible care of him left me with some pretty extreme vet bills. I have that under control and am not asking for help there. Unfortunately, that has left me with so much debt that I cannot come up with the funds to help Tuck. If anyone were interested in donating toward her medical bills, you would be giving her a chance to live. She's obviously already had a pretty rough start, but she's a fighter and I wouldn't feel right giving up on her without any effort. Thank you for taking an interest in her story!